Poland man, 23, charged after leaving infant in truck for nearly two hours

May 7, 2013

POLAND - An 8-month-old infant was not injured Sunday night after being left in a truck for almost two hours.

Troopers out of the State Police barracks in Jamestown charged Chad Swan, 23, of Scott Hill Road, with endangering the welfare of a child. Police said Swan left the infant in a carseat after returning from a relative's house around 10:30 p.m. Windows in the truck were rolled up.

According to State Police Sgt. Gary Segrue, the child's mother returned home around 12:30 a.m. and found Swan asleep.

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Chad Swan

After searching the immediate area, the infant was found "hot and sweaty" inside the truck by the infant's mother. She then contacted police.

Troopers said the infant sustained no injuries. Swan is believed to have been consuming alcohol Sunday night, but was not intoxicated, police said.

"Thankfully we avoided catastrophe here," Segrue said. "We have come across these situations in the United States from time to time where an infant is left alone inside a vehicle.

"Numerous things can happen. These children can be abducted or suffer from dehydration."

A temporary order of protection against Swan was issued by Judith Shields, Poland Town justice. Under the injunction, the Poland resident was told to refrain from offensive and endangering conduct against the infant and mother.

Swan, who will be back in court June 6, allegedly told police he did not remember leaving the infant inside the truck.

The Poland incident was the second in the area that led to child endangerment charges on Sunday. Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies charged Brandi L. Calkins, 21, after her 2-year-old child was found walking on Main Street in the village of Cattaraugus.

Sheriff's deputies said the child was walking on the street by himself for more than 30 minutes. Calkins was issued an appearance ticket and is due back in Cattaraugus Court at a later date.

"You know someone can come by and take the child," said Capt. Robert Buchardt. "It's just not a very smart thing to do. These kids can come up missing at the blink of an eye."